Justice News

Thirty Boston Gang Members Charged With Drug And Firearms Offenses Law Enforcement Round-Up Members Of Hendry Street And Woodward Avenue Gangs

BOSTON - Over 300 federal, state and local law enforcement officers carried out arrests and executed search warrants early this morning in Operation Concord, a large-scale collaborative investigation into the violence and distribution of drugs by the Woodward Avenue and Hendry Street gangs and their associates who terrorized the residents in Bowdoin-Geneva section of Dorchester and the Uphams Corner section of Roxbury.

“This community has been in desperate need of reprieve from the violence. We hope the arrests and prosecution of the defendants will quiet the streets and improve the quality of life for all residents,” said United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz.

“Today is a great day for the hardworking people of Bowdoin-Geneva and Uphams Corner,” Mayor Thomas M. Menino said. “Thanks to their help, and the help of our law enforcement partners, drugs have been taken from our streets, and these violent individuals who profit from harming others will no longer terrorize our neighborhoods.”

Teams of law enforcement and SWAT/STOP members arrested a total of 27 people today; 25 from the local area, one from California and one from Maine. Two other defendants are already in custody on federal supervised release violations and one remains a fugitive. Search warrants were executed at 12 locations.

As stated in court documents, the investigation, which involved controlled drug purchases, surveillance, and a wiretap, began in the summer of 2011. It is alleged that the defendants have been involved in gang, gun and drug activity in the Bowdoin-Geneva corridor or other areas of Dorchester and Roxbury at the direction of Alexis Hidalgo, 31, of Dorchester, and Jonathan DaSilva, 29, of Roxbury. Wiretap evidence was a crucial component of the investigation and provided investigators with information regarding the alleged partnership between Hidalgo, alleged leader of the Hendry Street gang, and DaSilva, alleged leader of the Woodward Avenue gang.

Hidalgo and DaSilva are alleged to be responsible for the distribution of kilos of crack cocaine, thousands of oxycodone pills throughout greater Boston, as well as hundreds of pounds of marijuana which they branded as high-grade and sold for up to $5,200 a pound. In a wiretap recording, a “mother-load” shipment of drugs was described in a call intercepted between Hidalgo and his associate. It is alleged that Hidalgo responded by saying, “You just got us indicted bro. If they are listening, I sell weed man.”

“From the Berkshires to Cape Cod, the FBI and our law enforcement partners actively analyze and investigate hot spots of gang activity in Massachusetts. As a result, we have concluded several lengthy gang investigations over the past year like today’s, which targets the Hendry Street and Woodward Avenue gangs,” said Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division. “Because of today’s multiple arrests, neighborhoods in Boston and several surrounding cities and towns are safer now than they were mere hours ago. Our unified law enforcement goal is to eradicate the scourge of gang activity which adversely impacts the safety of our communities.”

“This case demonstrates, working with our law enforcement partners, we are keeping the pressure on violent criminals involved in the drug trade,” Police Commissioner Ed Davis said. “We will not tolerate these defendants and others like them from terrorizing our neighborhoods. We are committed to rooting out the bad actors who make our communities unsafe.” “This effort shows our collective resolve in Boston and the Commonwealth to attack and dismantle these dangerous street gangs," said Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston. “For too long, gangs here and elsewhere have used violence and intimidation to hold communities hostage. As this operation shows, now it's the gang members who have something to fear.” “The Massachusetts Department of Correction is committed to working with other criminal justice agencies in a joint effort to ensure public safety,” said Luis S. Spencer, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Correction.

United States Marshal John Gibbons said, “The success of this investigation demonstrates the excellent working relationships the federal government shares with its state and local partners.”

The following individuals have all been charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, and are subject to forfeiture of property:

Jonathan DaSilva and Gomes face an additional count of forfeiture for all firearms including a Ruger P89 semiautomatic handgun.

U.S. Attorney Ortiz; Mayor Thomas M. Menino; Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis; Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; United States Marshal John Gibbons; Colonel Timothy Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Commissioner Luis S. Spencer of the Massachusetts Department of Correction, made the announcement today.

Special thanks to Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley and members of his office and the numerous local law enforcement agencies who provided substantial cooperation and assistance throughout the course of the investigation and during the execution of the arrests and searches today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys in Ortiz’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.